ISE Seminar Series

Development, Research, and Applications of Solar Ovens

Dr. Shyam Nandwani
Professor and Director of the Solar Energy Lab
National University, Costa Rica

Date: Thursday, March 24, 2005
Time: 1:00 - 1:50 pm
Location: Room 09-1149 (Kate Gleason Engineering Building)

Abstract

Eating is one of the basic needs of a human being whether you live for eating or eat for living. Cooking takes a lot of energy, from 1-3% of the domestic energy needed in developed countries to 10-50% in developing countries and in rural areas. Solar energy (free and clean) is one of the fuels which can be used for cooking all basic foods as well as for pasteurizing water (to inactivate harmful microbes).

Dr. Nandwani has been working on various applications of solar energy and specializing in Solar Cooking for the last 26 years. He uses most of these devices at his personal home and enjoys informing others about the use of solar energy for cooking. He will discuss some basic concepts, some basic designs (varying from US$5 to US$1000) and one hot box cooker that is commonly accepted, as well as the advantages (energetic, economic, and environmental, etc.) and limitations of Solar Cooking. Some recent research efforts in this area will be discussed as well.

Questions?
Contact Dr. Michael Kuhl at 475-2134 or mekeie@rit.edu